Discharge electrode tensioning means



Nov. 8, 1960 J. PHYL ETAL 2,959,246

DISCHARGE ELECTRODE mnsroums MEANS Filed June 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Y I I l8 he 60 Q U M] INVENTORS JOSEPH PH Y L MAX M. STRUPP ATTORNEYSNov. 8, 1960 J. PHYL ETAL 2,959,246

DISCHARGE ELECTRODE TENSIONING MEANS Filed June 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet2 W54 |ll "ii? 6O 62' 42 INVENTORS JOSEPH PHYL MAX M. STRUPP ATTORNEYSUnited. States Patent .DISCHARG'E ELECTRODE TENSIONING. MEANSJosephPhyl; Eanwood, and Max M; Strupp, Bridgewater Township, N.J.,assignors to Research-Cottrell, Inc., .igiridgewater Township, N.J., acorporation oLNew Filed June 12, 1959, Ser. No. 819,967

Claims. (Gl.-183-- 7) The present invention relates to electrical-;precipitation apparatus and more particularly andspecifically tov newand useful improvementsin dualzdischarge electrode ten- .sioning meansfor such apparatus.

In conventional precipitator construction,-it has been the practice tosuspend discharge electrodes from a high tensionfrarne by a. resilient.or rigid coupling of one type or another and-to weight thebottom freehanging ends of the electrodes to assist in maintaining :the elec-:trodes inverticalalignment within the precipitator.

However, with. theemployment of dual discharge electrodeassembliesrather than the conventional single dischargeelectrodes, certaindifliculties have been presented. A-major difiiculty has beenthe-attainment, of-equal tension on the individual electrode wires of asingle assembly.

In order to obtain the maximum efficiency-of an electricalprecipitator,equal tension is necessary in each wire.

The present invention has for one of its principal objects theproduction ofa simple and effectivemeans for obtaining equal tension inthe individual discharge electrode wires of an assembly comprised of:more than one wire.

-Cer. tain, ot-her advantages and objects of the invent ion -will becomereadily apparent to one skilledjin the art when; the followingdescription is read in lightfifthe accompanying drawings.

The nature ofet-hepresent invention may be stated in general terms asrelating to a discharge electrodeassembly forelectricalprecipitaters-'whichincludes in--cornbination a high tensionframe and a plurality of parallel discharge electrode units dependingfrom the frame, each of the electrode units comprising at least twoelectrode wires, the combination with said assembly of a weight for eachof said electrode units connected to the electrode wires thereof, eachof said weights consisting of at least a pair of cooperating sectionsfor maintaining equal tension on the electrode wires of each unit.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numeralsdesignate similar parts throughout the several veiws:

Figure 1 is a side elevational sectional view incorporating thetensioning means constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of one of the dischargeelectrode tensioning means of the present invention taken along line 22of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the tensioning meansshown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the tensioning means constituting theinvention taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the means for retaining theindividual discharge electrode wires in the tensioning weights of theinvention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is disclosed a typicalelectrical gas precipitator which includes a housing 12 having a hoppertype discharge hot- .tom 14=,togetherwith a cleanugas outlet, 16 on oneside thereof and a dirty gas inlet 18 on the opposite side thereof.

.by a conventional insulator support 26 carried within a housing 28. onthe topor upper end of the precipitator housing 12.

Associated with each of the rigid-frames 22 is a plu- :ralit-y'. ofdischarge electrode assemblies 30 each comprised of a pair of electrodewires 32 and 34 clearly illustrated inFigure 2. Each of the electrodeWire assem- 'blies is secured to the frame 22 by a coupling or shoulderbolt 36 provided with a spool 37. The discharge electrode assemblies 30are each maintained in tension by a weight assembly 38. Each of theweight assemblies 38 is comprised of two individual elements 40 and 42which .are individually connected to the discharge electrodes 32 and 34,respectively.

Referring in particular to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings; itis seenthat the upper ends of the discharge electrode wires 32' and 34 arelooped aroundthe spool 37 of the bolt 36 and are firmly maintainedthereon and .locked together-by a ferrule 44. To further insure that.the;discharge,electrode wires 32 and 34 do not experience anyrelativemovement, the ends of the wires maybe turned back upon themselves, asshown in Figure 3,

to form a "hook portion-46 fitting around the outer-surface of-.theferrule- 44.

sTorobta-in ,equaltension in each of the discharge :electrode wires 32,.and 34, an individual section40 or .42rof;the weight assembly 381sattached thereto. The

inrlividuahelements and-42-are identical with respect ito one;anotherand. therefore for the sake of simplicity aonlyea single one-.-will-bedescribed in detail.

The element 40 of the weight 38 consists principally of an elongate bodyportion which tapers to a reduced neck and terminates in a hook-likeupper end adapted to receive the lower end of its respective electrodewire 32. The lower end of electrode wire is formed into a loop by beingfolded upwardly and is held in place by a ferrule 48. The ferrule 48 isadapted to enclose or surround two thicknesses of the wire 32 and alsoone thickness of the adjacent wire 34. In order to permit freedom ofrelative longitudinal movement of the wires 32 and 34, the ferrule 48 isnot clamped tightly on the encompassed wire thicknesses. Instead, itwill be noted, the free end of the wire 32 is folded back upon itself toform a. hook portion 50 which fits around the top of the ferrule 48.

The adjacent electrode wire 34 is formed similarly to the wire 32. Thelower portion thereof is formed into a loop by being folded upwardly andis held in place by a ferrule 52 which is adapted to surround twothicknesses of the wire 34 and also one thickness of the adjacent wire32. In order to permit freedom of relative longitudinal movement of thewires 32 and 34, the ferrule 52, like the ferrule 48, is not clampedtightly on the encompassed wire thicknesses. Instead, the free end ofthe wire 34 is folded back upon itself to form a hook portion 54 whichfits around the top of the ferrule 52.

Equal tension of the individual electrode wires 32 and 34 isaccomplished by the individual weight elements 40 and 42 which are freeto move longitudinally with respect to one another. However, theseweight elements must be held in close proximity to provide for a minimum spacing between their associated electrode wires and care must stillbe taken to avoid the freezing or sticking at zones where two flat areasof the weight elements lie against each other. Therefore, the elements40 and 42 are provided with vertical rib projections 56 and 58,respectively, which maintain a minimum of surface contact between theweight elements.

It is also important to note that the hook-like upper end portions ofthe weight elements 40 and 42 in each instance are offset in a directiontoward the cooperating weight sections from a vertical line passingthrough the center of gravity of the weight, thus causing the weightelements to rock together about their suspension points at the bottom ofthe loops of the electrode wires 32 and 34. Manifestly, the abovedescribed method of suspending the weight elements eliminates the needfor any auxiliary means to hold the weight elements together.

In order to avoid any swinging of the discharge electrode wireassemblies 30 and their associated tensioning weights, a conventionalsteadying frame 60 is employed. The steadying frame 60 is adapted torest on a plurality of radially extending shoulders 62 of the individualweight elements 40 and 42.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that althoughthe discharge electrode wires illustrated and described herein areround, satisfactory results could likewise be achieved with the use ofelectrode wires having other cross-sectional configurations such as forexample square, rectangular, and twisted.

Further, it will be apparent that certain other modifications of theinvention described could be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention. Among the more obvious modifications is with respect tothe upper ends of the weight sections 40 and 42. While hook-likeconfiguration is advantageous and provides for easy installation andalso dismantlement, the upper ends of these weights could be formed witha bore of sufiicient diameter to receive their respective electrodewires.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explainedthe principles and mode of operation of our invention, and asillustrated and described what we now consider to represent its bestembodiment. However, We desire to have it understood that, within thescope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwisethan as specifically illustrated and described.

I. In a discharge electrode assembly for an electrical precipitatorcomprising a high tension frame and a plurality of parallel dischargeelectrode units depending from the frame, each of the electrode unitscomprising at least two electrode wires, the combination with saidassembly of a weight for each of said electrode units connected to theelectrode wires thereof, each of said weights consisting of at least apair of cooperating elements for maintaining equal tension on theelectrode wires of each unit and means for maintaining the lower portionof said electrode wires in close proximity and slidable relative to oneanother.

2. The combination claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrode wires areconnected to said weight elements at a point offset in a directiontoward the other of said elements from a line passing through the centerof gravity of said element.

3. The combination claimed in claim 2 wherein each of said weightelements is provided with a spacing member disposed to abut against theother weight element to thereby present a minimum surface contactbetween the said cooperating elements.

4. A tensioning weight element for dual discharge elec trode wires inelectrical precipitator apparatus comprising a weight assembly includinga pair of weight elements, each of said elements provided withsuspension means for attaching to its associated discharge electrode,said means being offset in a direction toward the other of said elementsfrom a line passing through the center of gravity of said element, andmeans for maintaining at least the upper portions of said elements inclose proximity of one another.

5. The combination claimed in claim 4 wherein said a means are offset insuch a manner that the discharge electrodes contact each other in theirentire length to thereby secure maximum corona discharge.

